LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 8, 2013

TO:	Honorable Allan Ritter, Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:	Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB246 by Walle (Relating to the rates charged by water and sewer utilities.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would limit a water utility's ability to file an application to increase water and/or sewer rates no more than once in a 36 month period. The rate increase requested could not exceed 20 percent of the utility's current rates. The bill would be effective September 1, 2013.
 
According to the Texas Commission Environmental Quality (TCEQ) most utilities file rate/tariff change applications every three years or less often. However, current law does allow a utility to file a rate increase application once every 12 months.

No significant fiscal implications to the TCEQ are expected as a result of the bill's passage.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Tarrant Regional Water District reported no fiscal impact associated with the bill.

Source Agencies:

582 Commission on Environmental Quality

LBB Staff:

UP, SZ, TL, KKR